tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">272

      THE REBBITZIN OF SKUL 276       INSURED 280       THE FIRE 284       THE EMIGRANT 289       THE MADMAN 291       MISERY 294       THE LÀMED WÒFNIK 295       THE INFORMER 299 XVI. THE OUTCAST 307 XVII. A CHAT 313 XVIII. THE PIKE 321 XIX. THE FAST 329 XX. THE WOMAN MISTRESS HANNAH 337 XXI. IN THE POND 385 XXII. THE CHANUKAH LIGHT 391 XXIII. THE POOR LITTLE BOY 401 XXIV. UNDERGROUND 417 XXV. BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS 429 XXVI. THE IMAGE 449   GLOSSARY 453

I

IF NOT HIGHER

And the Rebbe of Nemirov, every Friday morning early at Sliches-time, disappeared, melted into thin air! He was not to be found anywhere, either in the synagogue or in the two houses-of-study, or worshipping in some Minyan, and most certainly not at home. His door stood open, people went in and out as they pleased—no one ever stole anything from the Rebbe—but there was not a soul in the house.

Where can the Rebbe be?

Where should he be, if not in heaven?

Is it likely a Rebbe should have no affairs on hand with the Solemn Days so near?

Jews (no evil eye!) need a livelihood, peace, health, successful match-makings, they wish to be good and pious and their sins are great, and Satan with his thousand eyes spies out the world from one end to the other, and he sees, and accuses, and tells tales—and who shall help if not the Rebbe? So thought the people.

Once, however, there came a Lithuanian—and he laughed!